Page 45 - Ephesians

Instead of begging God, we begin to praise Him, for what is
already true. I tell you, it will make a qualitative difference in your
life. You won’t be walking around like penniless beggars. You’ll
begin to live, like the billionaire you are. We’re saints, and we’re
rich. We should never live beneath that high and holy calling. It’s
a tremendous position, and a high privilege. Purchased, by the
inestimable blood of Christ. He paid too much, for us to have
ordinary lives. Verse 7,

“Blesses, according to His riches.”

It doesn’t say out of His riches. They say the very wealthy John
D. Rockefeller liked to golf in California because he was a lousy
tipper. He didn’t want to be seen in New York, tipping so badly.
John D. Rockefeller tipped out of his riches, not according to his
riches. God does not bless us out of His riches, but according
to His riches. How rich is God? That’s how rich you are.

When you get a designated gift, you have an obligation to use it
for the intended purpose. He has made us so rich that you
might get the idea, “I’m rich in order to be rich”. Now watch.
According to Ephesians 1, all our wealth, is designated. It’s all
used for one purpose, and one purpose only. He’s given this, and
this, and this, because he wants something. Wants what? Why
so rich? What is the wealth designated for? Your pleasure? It
will result in that! Let’s see the direction of God’s heart in His
abundant giving. Verse 4,

“Just as He chose us in Himself before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him”.

At a tremendous price, and with an eternal purpose, God wrought
our great salvation. “Before the foundations of the earth”,
God planned that we might be holy. That we might be, like
Jesus. Who is “First-born, among many brethren”. There’s an
“easy believe-ism”, among the people of God. It says, “Live any